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Album Details

• Artist: Yes
• Album: Big Generator
• Label: Atco
• Year of Release: 1987
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-11-30

Big Generator really had a lot of contrasts. While it opened with a song (“Rhythm of Love”) that seemed like a leftover from 90125, the title track and some of the other material seemed as adventurous as some of the work Yes had released in the 1970s. The disc was definitely not the same level in terms of sales as 90125. Still, in many ways it was the strongest release from the Trevor Rabin led lineup of Yes.

That opening hit, “Rhythm of Love” was, in my opinion, the worst thing Yes ever recorded. The layers of Beach Boys styled vocals layered over a hard-edged guitar dominated pop structure just seemed like a watered down version of the type of music heard on 90125. That aforementioned level of contrast, though, was brought home immediately as the title track comes in second on the disc. It had a psychedelic meets jazz sound that is simply unique and also intoxicating.

Other highlights of the album included “Almost Like Love,” “Shoot High, Aim Low,” “Final Eyes” and “I’m Running.” “Almost Like Love” alternated a frantic, rubbery progressive rock section with a more balladic verse for great effect. “Shoot High, Aim Low,” while quite atmospheric, included a great vocal tradeoff between Rabin and Jon Anderson. “Final Eyes” was another that focused more on the mellower, melodic side. “I’m Running” was arguably strange, to a large degree because of a “duck call” sound and a “La Bamba” like movement. Yet, somehow it worked in a quirky progressive rock fashion.

While Big Generator was likely to have moments that disappointed, it also had some great music. It might have been (to some degree) overlooked in comparison to 90125, but it really was a superior album in terms of quality and artistry. 90125 earned a spot as an essential disc because of its achievements and place in the history of Yes, but Big Generator was arguably the strongest set the Rabin version of Yes would ever produce.

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